Lightning Arrow is a 3rd level transmutation spell that transforms one thrown weapon or piece of ammunition into a bolt of lightning.

Lightning Arrow: Misses the Mark

Usable By: Ranger

Spell Level: 3

School: Transmutation

Casting Time: 1 bonus action

Range: Self

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

Components: V, S

The next time you make a ranged weapon attack during the spell’s duration, the weapon’s ammunition, or the weapon itself if it’s a thrown weapon, transforms into a bolt of lightning. Make the attack roll as normal. The target takes 4d8 lightning damage on a hit, or half as much damage on a miss, instead of the weapon’s normal damage.

Whether you hit or miss, each creature within 10 feet of the target must make a Dexterity saving throw. Each of these creatures takes 2d8 lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

The piece of ammunition or weapon then returns to its normal form.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage for both effects of the spell increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 3rd.

Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

The mental picture of an arrow crystalizing into a golden electric bolt as it fires from your bow to explode out with crackling thunder and blinding lightning as it strikes the hill giant seems epic. This is the arcane archer fantasy at its finest. As you let loose this 3rd level spell you’ve waited till 9th level to get, you have to come to terms with its damage, and man, that damage SUCKS.

First off, for no explainable reason, the damage your shot would normally deal is entirely replaced with a flat 4d8. If you’ve taken the singular feat aimed at archery, Sharpshooter, you’re giving up 1d8+10+Dex mod. The average damage on hit here is around 18, depending on Dex; average damage on 4d8 is 18. For a third level spell, you’re likely not getting any bonus damage on hit if you’re playing with feats, as most groups do. That’s a bad place to start.

Next, the affected area is a 10 ft. radius area around the target, and you’re dealing measly 2d8 lightning damage. For reference, Burning Hands, a 1st level spell, hits a similar area, deals more damage, and is available from first level. Fireball and Lightning Bolt both are dealing 8d6 damage for a 3rd level spell slot in wider areas, and both have been an option to the full casters since 5th level. You’ve waited 4 levels to get half damage to one target, and a quarter damage to the rest, in a smaller area.

The only upside this has over the competition is you spend just a bonus action casting it, and can deliver its effects as one of your attacks on a given turn, meaning you still get another shot. This isn’t remotely close to the power level of other 3rd level slots, let alone the 5th level options full casters are now getting access to.

Where I think Hail of Thorns serves a decent enough purpose in the ranger class’s kit, Lightning Arrow is pitiful. It comes way too late, and even if it came earlier, does so little damage I can’t imagine wanting to cast it over just shooting things. Even without Sharpshooter, is a 3rd level spell slot worth a 10 ft. radius 2d8 lightning damage? No. It's not.

I’m an advocate for more powerful spells comparatively for their spell level for the half casters, and this option is actively worse than the majority of comparable options. It only does damage, and the damage it deals is garbage. Hail of Thorns up-cast deals 3d10 damage in an area at least, which is substantially more damage, and flexibly can use lower level slots in exchange for a smaller area. Hunter's Mark up-cast at this point at least gives you an eight hour duration and the potential for 2d6 bonus damage a round, more with off hand or other means of getting extra attacks. This kills any concentration spells you’d want to cast, does too little damage to justify its level, and tries to mask all of the trash in an epic fantasy.

Lightning Arrow is one of the worst kinds of spells; don’t be fooled by it. It could be a 1st level spell with this damage rate, but it's costed at 3rd level. Don’t be fooled by the epic fantasy. Don’t put Lightning Arrow on your character sheets.

5e Spells

Lightning Arrow: Misses the Mark